Man, 73, survives 115-foot fall in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park ranger John Broward, the search and rescue coordinator, stands near the site where a 73-year-old man fell 115 feet on Monday. (Photo: Jessica Ferracane / NPS)

A 73-year-old man who was stranded overnight after surviving a 115-foot fall in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park was rescued yesterday after a hiker heard him crying for help in the dense undergrowth along Halema‘uma‘u Trail, according a park service statement released today.

A local resident of Micronesian origin who speaks little English, Harry Osachy was able to tell rescuers he had fallen sometime Monday after climbing over a barrier behind Volcano House, at the edge of the sheer cliffs of Kīlauea caldera. Upon receiving a report at 4:45 p.m. Tuesday from the hiker, who at first thought the cries might be a prank, the park launched a Search and Rescue (SAR) team. SAR Coordinator John Broward was eventually lowered by helicopter and pulled Osachy to safety as the sun began to set.

A helicopter lifts Ranger Broward and the man he rescued out of the caldera. (NPS Photo)

An ambulance took Osachy, who suffered injuries to his pelvis and shoulder as well as scrapes and dehydration, to Hilo Medical Center. Fortunately, he had landed in a dense thicket of native ‘uluhe fern, which broke his fall, according to Broward.

It was the park’s thirteenth SAR mission this year; in April, a SAR crew rappelled into a steam vent to rescue a San Rafael teen who had fallen 25 feet reportedly while trying to leap across railings. Last year, park SAR crews responded to a total of 26 incidents, according to the press release.

“Once again, risky behavior by a visitor endangered the lives of our staff,” said Park Superintendent Cindy Orlando, who was at the site of the dramatic rescue. “We were able to execute an exemplary response from our cadre of specially trained first responders, and thankfully no one else was injured.”

— Jeanne Cooper

Behind the Volcano House lies the Kīlauea caldera, home to the smoking Halema‘uma‘u Crater — and steep cliffs. (Photo: Jeanne Cooper / SFGate)